Only two players in the history of the Edmonton Oilers have played 1000 or more games for the franchise. Defenseman Kevin Lowe played 1037 games in an Oilers sweater during his career. On Tuesday, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins surpassed him for the most games played in franchise history.
Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft. “Nuge” didn't exactly become the superstar sort of talent many expected back then. But his career has been nothing short of remarkable. After Tuesday's game, the Oilers star reacted to an in-game tribute marking his milestone.
🥇 Make it official 🥇
With his first shift tonight, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is now the all-time leader in games played for the #Oilers! pic.twitter.com/koH76sFO29
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 4, 2026
“I feel the love,” Nugent-Hopkins said, via NHL.com. “Having a video that they shared with me was definitely special. To have experienced a lot of these games with a few of the guys in here, it's pretty special. I'm very lucky and fortunate to have been able to hit this milestone with this team.”
Unfortunately, Edmonton was unable to get Nugent-Hopkins a win to celebrate his big milestone. The Oilers lost to Connor Hellebuyck and the New Jersey Devils in the shootout. Edmonton got a point in the standings, but couldn't finish out the game.
Article Continues BelowNugent-Hopkins made an impact in this contest. He scored a goal and added an assist to aid in the effort. This season, he has scored four goals and nine points in seven games.
The veteran forward has had one incredible career to this point. He still has a few seasons left in him, as well. Let's see how he continues contributing to the Oilers on the ice as the 2026-27 campaign rolls along.